They won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 Euro Cup. For two years at least, they were the team to beat in the World. Then came the fall: scored none in the 2002 World Cup and have been sent home in the quarter-finals by Greece in 2004 Euro Cup. Will they be able to come back?

France Football Federation has been founded in 1919 and has been affiliated to FIFA since 1904 (the dates come from FIFA.com; they seem strange, but this is what they say). They played in 11 World Cup until now and won one, in 1998, in France.

Their playing kit:

• jersey: blue;
• shorts: white;
• socks: red.

After the dissapointing last two major championships (World Cup in 2002 and Euro Cup in 2004), the great players retired. But not for long. Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele couldn’t stay away and came back to help their national team to top qualifying Group 4 in Europe, with 5 wins and 5 draws in 10 games.

Though important players, they might not be the players that will make the difference this time around. The young guns a rising their voices, starting with the goalkeeper.

The all-too-known Fabien Barthez has to put up quite a fight with the new comer, Olympique Lyon’s goalkeeper, Gregory Coupet. With great results and great goalkeeping, he might be the first choice against the older and suspended Barthez. Barthez was suspended for 6 months after a game with Marocco.

The defense line is a strong one, with young players that gather around one of the best defenders in the world, Lilian Thuram. Amongst them you may find Chelsea’s William Gallas or Bayern Munich’s Willy Sagnol.

The midfield is a combination between experienced players like Zidane and Makelele and younger players like Patrick Vieira.

Finally, the strikers are among the best in the World, Thierry Henry being, in my opinion, the best striker in the World. Alongside him, there are strikers like Wiltord, Govou or Djibril Cisse or last years Serie A goalgetter, Trezeguet.

Finally, one of the best weapons, their coach, Raymond Domenech, who never lost a game in 17 games played since he is France’s coach.

Will they be able to keep up the record and finish unbeaten the World Cup? It remains to be seen.

Some interesting thing to know about French football:

• Jules Rimet is the one that established the World Cup.
• Just Fontaine holds the record for the most games scored during a World Cup, with 13 in 1958.